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Flying through Space

Flying through Space

In this activity children construct paper aeroplanes to explore air resistance and make a prediction, experiment and form a conclusion.

Description

Austrian Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound, reaching a maximum velocity of 833.9mph (1,342km/h). He jumped out of a balloon 24 miles (39km) above sea level, above New Mexico. He also smashed the record for the highest ever freefall.

There was concern early in the dive that Baumgartner was in trouble. He was supposed to get himself into a delta position (head down, arms swept back) - as soon as possible after leaving his capsule. But the video showed him tumbling over and over. Eventually, however, he was able to use his great experience, from more than 2,500 career dives, to correct his fall and get into a stable configuration.

Children will construct paper aeroplanes to explore air resistance. They will make a prediction, experiment and form a conclusion.

Learning Objective:

- to listen and discuss their knowledge with others and ask questions relevant to the topic

Children will learn:

- to put forward a point of view and alter their viewpoint in light of discussion

- to construct a fair test and compare their prediction with what actually happened

Primary upd8

Acknowledgements

These resources were initially developed in partnership with the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University.